Planoorapn co



F. L. MACKENZIE. MACHINE FOR INSERTING FASTENINGS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10. I916.

Patented Aug. 12,1919.

FLANOGRAPH UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

FRED L. MACKENZIE, OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN E ASSIGN- IVIENTS, TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR INSERTING FASTENINGS.

Application filed August 10, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED L. MACKENZIE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Inserting Fastenings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference char actors on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to machines for inserting previously formed fastenings. The invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine designed especially to insert headed tacks of the kind used in the manufacture of boots and shoes. For convenience the fastenings will hereinafter be referred to as tacks, although the invention is also applicable to machines designed to handle other fastenings. Machines of this type usually comprise a mechanism for driving the tacks, a container or pot into which the fas tenings are thrown in bulk, a raceway which conducts the tacks from the pot to a point adjacent to the tack driving mechanism, and a separator operating intermittently to separate the endmost tack from the line of tacks in the raceway and to deliver the tack so separated to the driving mechanism.

A type of separator mechanism that has been much used in machines of this character includes a tack pick or separator which is mounted to move inwardly at nearly right angles to the line of tacks in the raceway to a point behind the endmost tack in the line, then along the raceway to deliver this tack to the throat or driver passage to which the raceway leads, and finally returns to its original position along the same path. The

driver, of course, descends through the driver passage at the proper point in the cycle of operations of the machine to insert the tack so delivered into the work. The tacks are supported in the raceway by their heads, their shanks or points hanging down wardly, and the tack pick or separator engages each tack at a point below its head. Consequently when the separator makes its return movement, after completing its tack separating operation, it strikes one or more of the endmost tacks in the line and swings the points of thesetacks backwardly past 7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug, 12, 1919.

Serial No. 114,279.

one or more of the tacks behind them. This action frequently results in overlapping or jamming together in the raceway the two or three endmost tacks in the line and thus clogs the-raceway so that in the next cycle of operations of the machine the separator fails to deliver a tack or else delivers two tacks to the driver passage thus choking this passage. In either event the normal operation of the machine is interrupted.

The present invention is directed particularly to improving the tack separating mechanisms of machines of this type with a View especially to overcoming the difiiculty just described and rendering such machines more positive and reliable in operation without sacrificing any of the well known advantages characteristic of mechanisms of this type as heretofore constructed. To this end the invention provides an operating mechanism fora tack pick or separator which moves the separator in a path that makes it impossible for the separator to cause the objectionable action above described.

A further difiiculty that has been experienced with tack separating mechanisms of the type above mentioned is that the tack pick or separator prevents the movement of the tacks down the raceway during so large a part of each cycle of operations of the ma chine, that only a very short time is available in each cycle for the line of tacks to advance under the influence of gravity into the position for the next tack separating operation to be efi'ected. The failure of the machine to deliver a tack is often due to this cause. The present invention provides a tack separating mechanism in which a very much longer period is afforded in each cycle for the line of tacks to advance, so that not only is the difficulty above described e11- tirely obviated, but the tack delivering mechanism so provided is capable of operation at higher speeds than is the corresponding mechanism heretofore used.

Referring now' to the accompanying drawin s T i gure 1 is a perspective view of part of a tack inserting machine of a common com mercial construction, but equipped with a tack separating mechanism embodying the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views, partly in section, showing different positions of the parts of the tack separating mechanism with which the present invention is particularly concerned; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the path of movement of the end of the tack pick or separator.

The machine partially shown in the accompanying drawings is disclosed more completely in Patent N 0. 1,106,393 granted August 11, 1914. For a description of the general organization of the machine reference should be made to this patent. For the purposes of the present application it is sufficient to state that the machine includes a driver 2, which reciprocates through a vertical driver passage or throat 1 to which the tacks are delivered one at a time by the separator, each tack, of course, being driven into the Work by the driver 2 immediately after it has been delivered to the driver passage. A raceway guides a line of tacks T from the tack pot (not shown) to the driver passage 1, but the movement of this line of tacks down the raceway is prevented during a large part of each cycle of operations of the machine by the presence of either the driver 2 or the separator 8 in the path of movement of the tracks.

The tack pick or separator 8 is mounted in a slot formed in the forward end of a separator holder 10 and is secured in any desired position of adjustment by a cl amping screw 12. This holder is pivoted by means of a bolt 14 to one end of a lever arm 16 of peculiar shape, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, this lever serving both to support and move the holder. A stud 18 projecting from the lower end of the lever arm 16 enters a short slot 20, curved about the axis of the pivot 14, and a spring 22 interposed between this stud and the rear end of the slot 20 tends to swing the holder 10 about the pivot 14: in a clockwise direction and thus to maintain the stud 18 at the forward extremity of the slot. The arm 16 is operated, as described more completely in the patent above designated, by connections with a cam 21 fast on the main shaft of the machine. Briefly stated, these connections consist of a vertical rock shaft 26 on which the lever 16 is mounted and with which normally it rocks, a spring connection 27, how- -ver, being provided, as fully explained in said patent, to transmit the forward throw of the rock shaft yieldingly to the arm 16; and another lever arm 28 secured to the upper end of the rock shaft 26 and slotted to receive a block 29 which is pivotally supported on one arm of a bell crank lever 30. the other arm of which carries a roll run ning in the path of the cam 24.

The mechanism so far described is substaaitially that which has been used on this and similar machines for many years. It

will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 that when the lever 16 makes its forward stroke, the holder 10 and the lever swing together about the axis of the shaft 26 until the face 15, Fig. 2, of the separator holder 10 strikes the side of the raceway. During this movement the end of the separator 8 travels along the path ab, Fig. 4, across the line 6 of tacks, just behind the endmost tack in the line. As soon as the engagement of the face 15 with the raceway arrests this swinging movement, the further forward swinging movement of the lever 16 causes the separator 8 to slide along the raceway in the path indicated by the line Z)c, Fig. 4; and during this movement 1t pushes the tack which it has separated into the driver passage 4. The parts then are in the relative positions in which they appear in F ig. 3. In order for the separator to make this movement it is of course necessary for the separator holder 10 to swing 1n a counted clockwise direction about the pivot 14, thus causing the stud 18 which is fast on the lever 16 to move backwardly along the arc shaped slot 20 and compress the spring 22.

If only the mechanism so far described were employed to operate the separator, this member in making its return movement would simply retrace the path just described. During the first part of this return movement, that is, in traveling from '0 to b 4, the separator would push back the line of tacks in the raceway and would be very likely to jam together the two or three endmost tacks in the raceway as above described.

The present invention provides means that causes the separator to swing directly away from the raceway in a path parallel to that in which it approached the raceway, as soon as it has delivered a tack to the driver passage 4. For this purpose a stop device is provided which cooperates with the separator holder 10 to retain it in a different angular relationship to the lever 16 while the separator makes its return stroke from that which it occupied in making its forward or tack separating movement. This step consists of a short arm 32 pivoted at one end on a stud 34, which is mounted in an extension 36 projecting from the lever 16, and carries at its opposite end a roll 38 which may enter either one of two seats T0 or formed for it in the holder 10. A spring 4.4 acts on this stop in a direction serving to swing the roll 38 out of the seat 40 and into the seat as when permitted to do so by the relative angular movement of the separator holder 10 and the lever 16. Such a relative movement takes place just as the separator 8 completes its tack separating operation; that is, just as sition in which it is shown in Fig. 3 and when the lever 16 begins its backward stroke the holder 10 swings with it about the axis of the shaft 26, the end of the separator 8 traveling from the point 0 toward the point (5, F 4. The spring 22 holds the wall forming the seat 42 firmly against the roll 38 during this movement.

.The stop 82 thus acts during this return stroke to retain the holder 10 in the angular relationship to the lever 16 into which it was moved at the end of the tack separating action. Consequently the end of the separator 8 is moved away from the raceway along a path which crosses the raceway farther down the raceway than does the path in which it advanced to the raceway; in fact this path of retreat crosses the path of the driver. 7 j

It will be evident that inasmuch as the tack pick or separator 8 swings directly away from 'theraceway at substantially right angles to the line of tacks in the raceway as soon as it has delivered a tack to the driver passage 4, there is no possibility ofthe separator acting on the tacks in such a way as to choke the raceway. Furthermore, since the separator moves out of the path of the tacks at an earlier point in its cycle of movements than in the mechanisms heretofore used, it affords a longer period in each cycle for the line of tacks to advance in readiness for the next tack separating operation. The tacks can follow the separator as it moves down the raceway so that they have only a very short advancing movement to make after the separator has moved away from the raceway before they arrive in position for the next tack separating operation to be made.

For the purpose of restoring again the original relationship between the lever 16 and the holder 10, the stop 32 is provided with an extension 46 which strikes a stationary part of the machine as the lever 16 nears the end of its backward swing, and the continuation of this movement crowds the right hand side of the seat 42 against the roll 38 and displaces the holder, that is, swings it in a counter clockwise direction about the pivot 14, far enough to crowd the hump between the seats 40 and 42 under the roll 38. The spring 22 then swings the holder 1.0 about the pivot 14 until the stud 18 brings up on the end of the slot 20, at which time the parts will be in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 2. The point of the separator 18 makes an irregular path something like that indicated by the line da, Fig. 4, while the parts 10 and 16 are being restored to their original angular relationship.

The usual eccentric adjustment is provided between the block 29 and its pivotal connection with the bellcrank lever 30 so that the limits of the throw of the lever comprising the arms 16 and 28 can be adjusted along the path of movement of said. lever and the point at which the separator 8 crosses the raceway on its advance and return strokes can be adjusted longitudinally of the raceway. The usual gage or positioning block 49 also is provided on the side of the raceway, as shown in Fig. 1, to aid the operative in making this adjustment. When it becomes necessary for any reason to adjust the separator operating mechanism, the block 29 is loosened, the main shaft is turned until the high point of the cam 24 as shown in Fig. 1 is opposite the center of the roller on the arm of the lever 30, and then the end of the separator-holder 10the end normally adjacent the gage 49is brought into contact with the gage, the contact that is established being such that the holder may swing away from the raceway as above described without hindrance from the gage. With the parts of the operating mechanism in the positions indicated, the block 29 is securely attached upon the arm of the lever 30, and the mechanism is again ready for operation. For the purpose of enabling the operative also to adjust the point at which the separator 8 crosses the line of tacks in making its tack separating movement independently of the point at which it leaves the raceway, the stud 18 is mounted on a short bolt 50 which passes eccentrically through the stud 18, and is threaded into the lever 16 so that it can clamp the stud in any adjusted position. The lower end of this stud projects below the lower face of the holder 10 and is provided with small holes drilled into its periphery, as shown in Fig. 1, so that it can be turned on the bolt 50, after the bolt has been loosened, to ad just the initial angular relationship between the holder 10 and the lever 16. This adjustment varies the location of the path a,b, Fig. 4 toward or from the axis of the shaft 26. In other words, this adjustment varies the point at which the separator 8 enters the line of tacks T, but does not affect the position at which it crosses the path of move ment of tacks in leaving the raceway. It is obvious that when this adjustment is changed it is also necessary to change the adjustment of the stop 32. and for this purpose the pivot 34 is provided with an eccentric portion on which the stop swings, so that by turning this pivot the free end of the stop can be moved toward or from the seats 40 and 42. The pivot also is provided with nuts by which it can be clamped in any adjusted position.

Having thus described my invention. what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for inserting tacks, the

toibe inserted, a driver passage at the end of said raceway, and a tack separator for separating the endmost tack from the line of tacks in the raceway and moving the tack so separated toward said passage, of an operating mechanism for said separator constructed and arranged to advance the separator across said line of tacks in making its tack separating movement, and to move the separator directly away from said line of tacks after it has completed said separating movement, said mechanism including a holder for said separator, means for moving said holder and separator, and a stop between said means and said holder operative to cause the separator to retreat from the raceway along a path that crosses the path of movement of said tacks farther down the raceway than the point at which it advanced to said line of tacks.

2. In a machine for inserting tacks, the combination with a raceway for the tacks to be inserted, a driver passage at the end of said raceway, and a tack separator for separating the endmost tack from the line of tacks in the raceway and moving the tack so separated toward said passage, of an operating mechanism for said separator constructed and arranged to impart to the separator movements toward and from said raceway, said mechanism including a holder for the separator and a lever connected with said holder to move it, said mechanism acting to change the angular relationship between said lever and holder while the tack separating action is being performed, and a stop operative to maintain said lever and holder in their changed relationship while said mechanismmoves the separator away from the raceway.

8. In a machine for inserting tacks, the combination with a raceway for the tacks to be inserted, adriver passage at the end of said raceway, and a tack separator for separating the endmost tack from the line of tacks in the raceway and moving the tack so separated toward said passage, of an operating mechanism for said separator comprising a holder for the separator, a lever to which said holder is pivoted and which swings the holder toward and from said raceway, said mechanism being constructed and arranged to cause the separator to slide along the raceway from the point at which it is swung across the lme of tacks toward said driver passage thus effecting a change in the angular relationship between said lever and holder, and a self-positioning stop device operative to maintain said lever and holder in their changed relationship while the lever swings said holder and separator away from said raceway again.

4. In a machine for inserting tacks, the combination with a raceway for the tacks to be inserted, a driver passage at the end of said raceway and a tack separator for separating the cn'dmo-st tack from the line of tacks in the raceway and moving the tack so separated toward said passage, of an op erating mechanism for said separator con structed and ar anged to impart to the separator movements toward and from said raceway, said mechanism including a holder for the separator, alever connected with said holder tomove it, a stop pivoted on said lever, said holder having two seats formed therein, with either one of which said stop may engage, and a spring tending to move said stop from one of said seats to the other when such movement is permitted by the relative movement of said lever and holder, a part of said stop being constructed to cooperate with a stationary part of the machine to shift the stop from one seat to the other in opposition to said sprin 5. In a machine for inserting tacks, the combination with a raceway for the tacks to be inserted, a driver passage at the end of said raceway, and a tack separator for separating the endmost tack from the line of tacks in the raceway and moving the tack so separated toward said passage, of an operating mechanism for said separator constructed and arranged to impart to thesepara-tor movements toward and from said raceway, said mechanism including a holder for the separator, means connected with said holder to move it, and a stop device to retain said holder and means constantly in a certain relationship to each other while the separator III ELlCQS one of said movements and constantly in a different relationship while the separator makes the other of said movements.

6. In a tack feeding mechanism, a raceway, a tack separator, means for moving the separator to cause it to enter the line of tacks in the raceway and progress a tack along the raceway, said means operating thereafter to return the separator to initial position, and means pivotally mounted on the separator-movingm'eans and coiiperating therewith for causing the withdrawal of the separator from the raceway" after the completion of its tack progressing movement.

7. In a tack feeding mechanism, a raceway, a tack separator, means for moving the separator to cause it to separate a tack from the line of tacks in the raceway and to progress the separated tack along the raceway, said means operating thereafter to return the separator to initial position, and a stop mounted on the separator-movingmeans for preventing the entrance of the separator into the line of tacks in the raceway during the return of the separator to initial position. 7

8. In a tack feeding mechanism, a raceway, a member arranged to oscillate about a vertical axis, a tack separator arranged to be moved by said member in its oscillation in one direction to cause it to enter the line of tacks in the raceway to move a tack along the raceway, and means mounted on said member and operative during oscillation of said member in the other direction for locking the separator against movement into the raceway during the return of the separator to initial position.

9. In a tack feeding mechanism, a raceway, a member arranged to oscillate about a vertical axis, a tack separator, a holder for the separator arranged to be moved by said member in its oscillation in one direction to cause the separator to enter the line of tacks in the raceway to move a tack along the raceway, and means mounted on said member for locking the holder to prevent it from moving the separator along the raceway in operative relation to the tacks therein during oscillation of said member in the other direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FRED L. MACKENZIE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

